Wise Men Say: Sunderland losing out on Yann M'Vila isn't as catastrophic as some say

There will be those that disagree and feel that the Sunderland hierarchy have questions to answer over the failed signing of Yann M’Vila, but for me it’s time to move on.

‘Money Talks’ (Neil Diamond), and at the end of the day it appears Yann was more than willing to listen.

Of course, he isn’t in the minority when it comes to footballers who have put money first, and we as Sunderland fans have disappointing first-hand experience of that.

Darren Bent kissed the badge, told everyone he was ready to become a ‘Wearside Legend’ and he wasn’t far away to be fair.

And then, came the call of the lovely lucre and off he went to kiss someone else’s badge – breaking red and white hearts.

Asmoah Gyan was well on his way to becoming a cult hero for the Black Cats.

But again the price was right for the player, and he swapped crowds of 40,000+ in one of the most prestigious league’s in world football for a relative backwater in terms of the sport and crowds of one man and his dog.

There will be those reading this thinking, ‘Yeah but we should have signed M’Villa in the summer,’ and it is hard to argue with that.

The midfielder was outstanding for the Black Cats last term and in the eyes of fans should have been the first buy in the summer window.

But let’s not let our brief love affair with the player colour our reasoning and start another vocal minority of taking pot shots at David Moyes or Ellis Short.

Yes M’Vila was superb, Yes he’s far more of a finished product than Paddy McNair and Didier NDong, but can we really blame Sunderland for refusing to be held to ransom by Rubin Kazan?

It’s a fact that coughing up for Yann would have cost less than the fee for NDong alone, and that on evidence seen so far he’d be far more effective as a force in the Premier League.

But we might do well to remember – this (M’Vila) was a man never going back to Kazan. In the summer he stayed in France rather than going straight back to his club.

But all the ills he felt against Kazan, all the reasons he was never going back, all his ‘love’ for Sunderland seems to have disappeared with the offer of a new pay day.

Is losing out on M’Vila disappointing?

Of course it is, but for me it isn’t as catastrophic or as cut and dried a failure by SAFC as some clearly feel it is.

I’d like to end this column by sending my love, best wishes and sympathies to young Bradley Lowery and his family.

It was with tremendous sadness that I read the news that this courageous young man is losing his fight.

Having recently become a father for the first time, I can’t comprehend what this lad’s parents and family are going through.

Hopefully, this exceptionally brave boy will remain in the hearts and memories of the Sunderland and Everton fans, whose club where so generous to his cause, and they remember that kids’ lovely smile as he proudly stood there as mascot when the two teams met at the Stadium of Light.

My thoughts and prayers are with young Bradley and his family.

The Wise Men Say podcast is available from every Monday, with SAFC debate from a variety of guests and post-match reaction from David Moyes. You can stream it direct from wisemensay.co.uk or subscribe to it on iTunes